Church homers to help lift Cardinals past Marlins 5-3

MIAMI (AP) — Nathan Church hit a two-run homer and Alec Burleson had two RBIs to back a strong start by Dustin May and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Miami Marlins 5-3 on Tuesday night.

May (3-2) allowed a leadoff home run to Jakob Marsee — his first of the season — but then settled down. He left with one on and one out in the sixth, allowing a run and six hits. Justin Bruihl followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Ryne Stanek walked three to load the bases with two outs in the eighth and left after a two-run single by Heriberto Hernández cut St. Louis' lead to 5-3. George Soriano struck out Connor Norby to end the rally.

Riley O’Brien pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in eight opportunities. He hasn’t allowed an earned run in his first 13 1/3 innings.

Burleson drove in the Cardinals' first two runs off Chris Paddack (0-4) with a first-inning single and a fielder's choice grounder in the third. Church hit his second homer following Masyn Winn’s leadoff single in the fourth to put St. Louis up 4-1.

Burleson doubled in the fifth and scored on a two-out single by Nolan Gorman for the Cardinals' final run.

Winn, who went 2 for 4 and scored a run for the Cardinals, has multiple hits in three straight games during an eight-game hitting streak.

JJ Wetherholt led off the game with a double and scored two runs. Jordan Walker went 0 for 4 to end a 15-game hitting streak.

Paddack allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings, but struck out seven. John King got the final out, then pitched a scoreless sixth.

Marsee went 3 for 4 to raise his average to .176.

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza of the national champion Indiana Hoosiers threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Cardinals RHP Kyle Leahy (2-2, 5.21) starts Wednesday's rubber game opposite Marlins RHP Janson Junk (0-2, 4.50).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt scores past Miami Marlins catcher Liam Hicks on a hit by Alec Burleson, during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Marlins' Jakob Marsee celebrates after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the start of a baseball game between the Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

St. Louis Cardinals' Nathan Church, right, celebrates with Masyn Winn, after hitting a two-run home run to bring them both home during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

BOSTON (AP) — V.J. Edgecombe had 30 points and 10 rebounds while playing through pain after taking a hard fall on his back early in the game, Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 111-97 on Tuesday night to tie their playoff series at one game apiece.

Edgecombe made six of the 76ers' 19 3-pointers. Maxey also had nine assists as Philadelphia bounced back after getting blown out 123-91 in Game 1. Edgecombe is the first rookie to record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game since Tim Duncan on May 5, 1998.

The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday.

“I think we knew where the shots were going to come from," Edgecombe said. "We kept trusting each other. Everyone can make a play on the court. ... They wanted me to shoot the ball.”

The Celtics cut a seven-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to 91-89 before an 11-0 run put the 76ers back in front 102-89 with just over four minutes to play. The Celtics pulled their starters with a little more than a minute remaining.

Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 36 points. Jayson Tatum added 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.

“I thought Edgecombe was just too comfortable,” Brown said. “He's a rookie, but he can play. We've got to be better on him.”

After struggling from the field in Game 1, the 76ers needed much more from Maxey and Edgecombe. They got it, with the pair carrying the load for a team that shot 47.8% from the field, including 19 of 39 from the 3-point line.

“I grab (Edgecombe) and Tyrese together a lot and remind them to be super aggressive,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. "Fire it up there, like keep shooting no matter what.”

Boston was only 13 of 47 from the 3-point line and shot 39.3% from the field overall, while committing 13 turnovers leading to 16 points by the 76ers.

Philadelphia, which was again without center Joel Embiid for Game 2 as he continues to go through a strength and conditioning program following an appendectomy on April 9, was twice without Edgecombe for brief stretches Tuesday.

Edgecombe limped off in noticeable pain and went straight to the locker room for treatment in both the first and third quarters.

He returned each time and kept scoring to help the 76ers build as much as a 13-point lead in the third.

The intensity was high throughout the game.

It hit a high point in the opening minutes when Brown was assessed a technical foul after his emphatic one-handed dunk over Adem Bona that sent the 76ers big man to the floor.

Replays appeared to show that Brown’s momentum after the jam carried him into contact with Bona, who fell to the floor and left Brown in a hovering position over him.

But referee Marc Davis didn’t see it that way and called Brown for the tech.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes (5) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic (4) during the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe takes a shot against Boston Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman (55) and forward Sam Hauser (30) during the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket past Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (30) during the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) slams a dunk against Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (30) during the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball game, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)